49ers vs. Jets: Kyle Shanahan gives update on Christian McCaffrey’s injury status

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The San Francisco 49ers were without Christian McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, on Monday night, but his absence did not slow the team down. The Niners won their opening game of the regular season with a comfortable 32-19 victory over the New York Jets.

Before the game, reports emerged that McCaffrey would miss Week 1, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter added that the star running back may also miss the 49ers’ Week 2 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

“Not only is Christian McCaffrey out tonight, but there’s a real chance he won’t play on Sunday,” Schefter said, via Kyle Madson of Niners Wire. “They’re playing on the road in Minnesota on turf on a shorter week. So he’s inactive tonight and it looks like there’s a very strong possibility McCaffrey won’t play on Sunday against the Vikings either.”

This speculation surprised head coach Kyle Shanahan.

“This is unbelievable,” Shanahan joked. “This person has to be God because we just found out he’s not playing today and I have no idea how he’s going to feel tomorrow or the day after. I thought until today he was going to play all week, so I don’t know who knows he’s not playing next week.”

When asked about McCaffrey’s injury, Shanahan explained: “Exactly the same stuff that’s been bothering him all week. Today was a little too much, a decision made just before the game. He came in, I just talked to him about it, but it was still there. I thought it was smart to leave him out and I’m glad we did.”

McCaffrey seemed optimistic about playing earlier this week, raising questions about whether he had suffered a setback.

“No, he didn’t have a setback,” Shanahan said. “I mean, it was a recurring issue all week. He was able to practice all week. It always bothered him a little bit, and sometimes it goes away, sometimes it comes back. And today it bothered him a little too much, so we didn’t feel good about it.”

Shanahan acknowledged that there were concerns that McCaffrey’s injury could linger, especially since it had hampered him throughout training camp.

“But it’s getting better and hopefully next week will be even better,” Shanahan added.

In McCaffrey’s absence, Jordan Mason stepped in and rushed for 147 yards. In a postgame interview with ESPN, Mason mentioned that he had learned he might be in the starting lineup Friday night.

“I never told Jordan he was going to start,” Shanahan explained. “I told him he had to be ready a lot, but that could have been (RB coach) Bobby (Turner) or somebody trying to get him pumped up. But I knew he had to play a lot. I told him it wasn’t going to be the same as usual. He was going to be a No. 2 back splitting most of the time. But no, he didn’t know until today that he was going to do that for sure.”

Mason was visibly frustrated when asked when he found out he would be playing against the Jets.

“That’s exactly the question I don’t like talking to the media about,” Mason replied, “because you say the wrong thing and then… I don’t know. Just skip that question.”